"Later He appeared to the eleven as they sat at the table; and He rebuked their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they did not believe those who had seen Him after He had risen."
After three and a half years of miracles, signs and wonders, wisdom from above, and a love that was beyond human comprehension, the eleven disciples that walked, talked, ate, slept and ministered with Jesus still had hardness in their hearts.
I'm amazed by that truth and even more amazed that one could eat, sleep and minister with the Lord and never change, never be touched by His love, never shed a tear of repentance and Godly sorrow.
Yet that was the case with Judas Iscariot, who we all know betrayed the Savior of all mankind.
It has taken me years to really understand how a man or woman can harden themselves to the love, grace, and Spirit of God. I've learned over the years that it's not hard to resist the pull of God's grace, and it's not hard to resist the conviction of the Spirit, people just do what comes natural to them since birth.
When they feel the pull of God, they turn their faces away, when the Spirit convicts their hearts of sin, righteousness, and judgment, they harden themselves to it, they ignore the Spirit of God and become engrossed with work, pleasures, and the pride of life.
No, it's not hard to resist God, but it IS hard, painful, and difficult to resist satan! It's hard to resist the lusts of your flesh, and very difficult to overcome the world, and go against the grain.
The truth is sin hardens the heart, and once a man or woman resists God long enough, He gives them over to a depraved mind, He gives them over to the lusts of their flesh and they eventually end up beyond feeling.
Did you know it was possible to be past feeling? The scriptures talk about such people.
Ephesians 4:17-19
"This I say, therefore, and testify in the Lord, that you should no longer walk as the rest of the Gentiles walk, in the futility of their mind, having their understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart; who, being past feeling, have given themselves over to lewdness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.
Jesus prophesied that because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold. Lawlessness is indeed abounding throughout this world!
Is your heart hard?
Hebrews 3:15
“Today, if you will hear His voice, Do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion."
"On the same day, when evening had come, He said to them, “Let us cross over to the other side.” Now when they had left the multitude, they took Him along in the boat as He was. And other little boats were also with Him. And a great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that it was already filling. But He was in the stern, asleep on a pillow. And they awoke Him and said to Him, “Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?”
Then He arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Peace, be still!”And the wind ceased and there was a great calm. But He said to them, “Why are you so fearful? How is it that you have no faith?” And they feared exceedingly, and said to one another, “Who can this be, that even the wind and the sea obey Him!”
God does many things on a daily basis to test our hearts and minds, He tests the fruits that are birthed in our hearts to see how we will respond in any given situation.
Are we faithful when disaster strikes, are we peaceful when the storm rises up and threatens to overtake us?
Jesus is the prince of peace and He trusted the Father completely with His life while He walked this earth as the Son of man and the Son of God. He knew and understood that no matter what was going on around Him, that God was with Him and would protect Him from harm and death. Jesus had peace.
Are you peaceful when there's an unforeseen accident? Are you peaceful when you lose your job and the rent is due and the kids are hungry? Or do you go off and lose your temper not knowing what to do?
While Jesus slept in the boat the disciples were becoming more and more fearful of death as the storm raged and the waters started to fill up the boat.
How could Jesus sleep in the midst of a raging storm, howling winds, flooding boat, and fearful, yelling disciples? PEACE!
Strong's Lexicon gives us this definition of Peace.
G1515: 1. A state of national tranquillity, a. exemption from the rage and havoc of war 5. of Christianity, the tranquil state of a soul assured of its salvation through Christ, and so fearing nothing from God and content with its earthly lot, of whatsoever sort that is. (Blue Letter Bible)
The disciples might have thought Jesus didn't care about them because He was sleeping while the storm raged, but that was their state of mind and being at the time. Jesus loved them all, but they had to go through the experience to learn how to trust in God and follow the example of Jesus.
John 14:27
"Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid."
Phillipians 4:6-7
"Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
"Then they went into Capernaum, and immediately on the Sabbath He entered the synagogue and taught. And they were astonished at His teaching, for He taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes. Now there was a man in their synagogue with an unclean spirit. And he cried out, saying, “Let us alone! What have we to do with You, Jesus of Nazareth? Did You come to destroy us? I know who You are—the Holy One of God!”
But Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be quiet, and come out of him!” And when the unclean spirit had convulsed him and cried out with a loud voice, he came out of him. Then they were all amazed, so that they questioned among themselves, saying, “What is this? What new doctrine is this? For with authority He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey Him.” And immediately His fame spread throughout all the region around Galilee."
The fact that there was a man sitting in the midst of the synagogue with an unclean spirit, (while Jesus taught!) tells us that satan and evil spirits don't care about a physical building at all, they are not bound by the physical. And it doesn't matter how historical or the name of the building, demons can and will enter a building with the label "church" on it and feel quite comfortable IF there is no one in that building with the Holy Spirit and anointing of God IN their souls.
If there is no one with the power and authority of Jesus to cast out the devils that inhabit the bodies of the wicked and believers as well, inside buildings and outside, then the demons will be free to do what they will.
What those who are truly in Christ must understand is that WE ARE THE CHURCH! And if the Spirit of God dwells in you, then it doesn't matter where you step your foot, God is with you in that place!
1st Corinthians 3:16
"Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?"
Did Paul tell the Corinthian saints that the physical temple of Jerusalem at that time was the temple of God? NO! He told them that THEY were the temple of God!
Jesus knew that His body was a temple of God.
John 2:19-21
"Jesus answered and said to them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” Then the Jews said, “It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and will You raise it up in three days?” But He was speaking of the temple of His body."
Paul quoted the prophets and reiterated to the Corinthians what God Himself said.
2nd Corinthians 6:16
"For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said: “I will dwell in them And walk among them. I will be their God, And they shall be My people.”
Eventually the demons will manifest (show themselves) in the presence of one with the power, authority, and grace of God emanating from their spirits. Even Judas who was with Jesus His whole ministry, eventually showed himself for who he was, a betrayer and a devil!
No, the church is not a building and never will be. And when the buildings that are called 'the church' are no more, then those in whom God dwells will stand strong in His power and His might!
Matthew 16:18
"And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it."
"The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, But fools despise wisdom and instruction."
Do you have a reverent fear of God? A fear that helps you to do right when you want to do wrong?
I'm not talking about a fear that makes you afraid to come near to God and receive His salvation and love. But a godly fear that keeps you obedient to Him and His commands.
In these last days it seems there is nothing much that can cause a man or woman to stop sinning and repent (change your mind) and turn to God.
With ever increasing sin and debauchery, what will it take before people begin to fear the Creator of Heaven and earth?
What has to happen before man says this is the finger and the judgment of God, who can stand?
In the first century church, Ananias and Sapphira learned a hard lesson about lying to God.
Acts 5:1-5
"But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession. And he kept back part of the proceeds, his wife also being aware of it, and brought a certain part and laid it at the apostles’ feet. But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and keep back part of the price of the land for yourself? While it remained, was it not your own? And after it was sold, was it not in your own control? Why have you conceived this thing in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God.” Then Ananias, hearing these words, fell down and breathed his last. So great fear came upon all those who heard these things."
It's inevitable that God will do the same things today that He did thousands of years ago when people forgot to fear and reverence Him.
So let those who fear the Lord remember His promise of a heavenly kingdom that cannot be shaken, and let us labor to enter into that kingdom and the joy of our Lord!
Hebrews 12:28-29
"Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear. For our God is a consuming fire."
A few weeks ago my spirit was quickened by the Lord and I said, "something is coming". And the same day while my wife was praying and meditating she received the same thing and spoke out loud, "something is coming".
Whatever it is many will not be prepared for it and they will be swept away by it. The only hope any soul has on the face of this earth is Jesus!
Luke 21:25-26
“And there will be signs in the sun, in the moon, and in the stars; and on the earth distress of nations, with perplexity, the sea and the waves roaring; men’s hearts failing them from fear and the expectation of those things which are coming on the earth, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken."
Mensagem escrita dias 04 e 18 de Abril de 2015 -Parte 1 e Parte 2
This message can also be found in our blogspot on 04/12/2015 named as: Be Transformed By the Renewing Of Your Mind! Part 1 and Part 2 written on 04/18/2015
PARTE 1
Romanos 12:1-2
Portanto, irmãos, rogo-lhes pelas misericórdias de Deus que se ofereçam em sacrifício vivo, santo e agradável a Deus; este é o culto racional de vocês. 2 Não se amoldem ao padrão deste mundo, mas transformem-se pela renovação da sua mente, para que sejam capazes de experimentar e comprovar a boa, agradável e perfeita vontade de Deus.
Eu disse isso antes em outra mensagem, mas eu preciso dizer novamente: Ler as escrituras e concordar com elas e uma coisa, mas VIVER A REALIDADE das verdades das Escrituras e totalmente diferente!
Ser transformado pela renovacao de sua mente e uma escritura que deve se tornar uma realidade para os que estao em Cristo antes de nos comecarmos a entender inteiramente o que o Espirito estava falando atraves de Paulo quando a escritura foi escrita.
G3339. metamorphoo met-am-or-fo'-o de 3326 e 3445; transformar (literalmente ou figurativamente, "metamorfose"):--mudanca, transfigurar, transformar.
Transformar 1 a: mudar em composicao ou estrutura b: mudar por fora a forma ou aparencia form de c: mudar em carater ou conficao :converter (Merriam Webster)
Ser transformado significa se tornar algo COMPLETAMENTE DIFERENTE do que voce e agora, fisicamente E espiritualmente! Ser mudado para algo mais! A comparacao mais proxima de transformacao que Cristaos podem experimentar em Cristo e a mudanca da Lagarta para Borboleta.
2 Corintios 3:17-18
Ora, o Senhor é o Espírito; e onde está o Espírito do Senhor aí há liberdade. Mas todos nós, com rosto descoberto, refletindo como um espelho a glória do Senhor, somos transformados de glória em glória na mesma imagem, como pelo Espírito do Senhor.
Os que estao em Cristo e estao pressionando para santidade e maturidade estao literalmente sendo transformados na MESMA IMAGEM de nosso Senhor e Salvador!
Entao faca a voce mesmo algumas perguntas como: Voce esta experimentando transformacao e sendo conformado a imagem de Cristo? Fisicamente e espiritualmente? Quando voce se olha no espelho, voce enxerga as manifestacoes de Jesus? Voce ve e sente vida em seu corpo? Paz, alegria, e amor em seus olhos? Voce ve a face de um anjo olhando de volta para voce? Se nao, voce deve se perguntar por que nao?
Nas escrituras nos encontramos um dos martires, Estevao, que experimentou as transformacoes fisica e espiritual a imagem de Cristo. Ele estava cheio do Espirito, fe e sabedoria de Deus.
Atos 6:1-6
Ora, naqueles dias, crescendo o número dos discípulos, houve uma murmuração dos helenistas contra os hebreus, porque as viúvas daqueles estavam sendo esquecidas na distribuição diária. E os doze, convocando a multidão dos discípulos, disseram: Não é razoável que nós deixemos a palavra de Deus e sirvamos às mesas. Escolhei, pois, irmãos, dentre vós, sete homens de boa reputação, cheios do Espírito Santo e de sabedoria, aos quais encarreguemos deste serviço. Mas nós perseveraremos na oração e no ministério da palavra. O parecer agradou a todos, e elegeram a Estevão, homem cheio de fé e do Espírito Santo, Filipe, Prócoro, Nicanor, Timão, Pármenas, e Nicolau, prosélito de Antioquia, e os apresentaram perante os apóstolos; estes, tendo orado, lhes impuseram as mãos. Atos 6:8-15
Ora, Estêvão, cheio de graça e poder, fazia prodígios e grandes sinais entre o povo. Levantaram-se, porém, alguns que eram da sinagoga chamada dos libertos, dos cireneus, dos alexandrinos, dos da Cilícia e da Ásia, e disputavam com Estêvão; e não podiam resistir à sabedoria e ao Espírito com que falava. Então subornaram uns homens para que dissessem: Temo-lo ouvido proferir palavras blasfemas contra Moisés e contra Deus. Assim excitaram o povo, os anciãos, e os escribas; e investindo contra ele, o arrebataram e o levaram ao sinédrio; e apresentaram falsas testemunhas que diziam: Este homem não cessa de proferir palavras contra este santo lugar e contra a lei; porque nós o temos ouvido dizer que esse Jesus, o nazareno, há de destruir este lugar e mudar os costumes que Moisés nos transmitiu. Então todos os que estavam assentados no sinédrio, fitando os olhos nele, viram o seu rosto como de um anjo.
Podemos nos andar na face desta terra cheios de fe, poder, sabedoria, e do Espirito de Deus? Eu te digo SIM!!!
as nossas faces podem brilhar tao cheias de luz, gloria e beleza, que as pessoas olharao para nossas faces como se fossemos anjos? Eu te digo SIM!!!
Como foi no primeiro seculo, assim tambem sera no seculo 21!!
PARTE 2
Colossenses 3:1-3
Se, pois, fostes ressuscitados juntamente com Cristo, buscai as coisas que são de cima, onde Cristo está assentado à destra de Deus. Pensai nas coisas que são de cima, e não nas que são da terra; porque morrestes, e a vossa vida está escondida com Cristo em Deus.
Paulo nos da uma chave muito importante para facilitar o processo de transformacao e renovacao da mente. Ele nos fala dos santos de Colossos para colocarem suas mentes nas coisas de cima e NAO nas coisas que sao da terra!
Se voce aplicasse esta palavra a sia vida por um dia, voce veria o quanto voce pensa sobre as coisas da terra! Como contas, esposas, criancas, trabalho, divida, escola, politica, membros da familia, e a lista continua!
Este mundo e cheio de distracoes e satanas sabe como enlacar voce, distrair voce, e mentir para voce, para que voce mantenha sua mentes em tudo mais exceto JESUS!!!
Uma vez que voce comeca a meditar na palavra de Deus e pensar nas coisas do ceu, santidade, e nas coisas de Deus, as coisas desse mundo comecam a perder o poder. Uma vez que voce se disconectar do Matrix ( o sistema dos homens), sua mente comeca a se abrir para verdade e como Neo (do filme Matrix), voce comeca a perceber que a vida que voce estava vivendo nao era vida pois somente atraves de Cristo podemos ter vida abundante!
2 Corintios 10:3-5
Porque, embora andando na carne, não militamos segundo a carne, pois as armas da nossa milícia não são carnais, mas poderosas em Deus, para demolição de fortalezas; derribando raciocínios e todo baluarte que se ergue contra o conhecimento de Deus, e levando cativo todo pensamento à obediência a Cristo;
Paulo disse aos santos que nos andamos na carne mas nos nao guerreamos de acordo com a carne. Se voce tentar lutar com satanas pela carne voce perdera todas as vezes e dara a ele abertura em sua vida.
Mas se voce entender que nos somos alma e espirito covertos por corpos de carne e voce lutar a boa luta da fe andando na vitoria de Jesus, o inimigo nao podera nos tocar a nao ser que Deus o permita.
A escritura nos diz para levar cativo TODO PENSAMENTO a obediencia de Cristo! Quantas horas do dia voce senta e pensa nas coisas da terra? Ou assiste TV?
Se voce colocar sua mente em Jesus e nas coisas de cima o mesmo tempo que gasta pensando nas outras coisas terrenas, voce ficara espantado com a quantidade de bencaos espirituais e avancos que recebera de Deus!
Neste trecho e dito: "Voce deve deixar tudo Neo: Medo, Duvida, Descrenca. Liberte Sua Mente"
